Witness .45, notch in slide?

[Bart Noir]

At a pawn shop, was looking at a Witness .45 that had a neat, squared-off notch in the middle of the lower edge of the ejection port. The notch was maybe as much as 1/8 th inch wide and deep enough that the bottom was hidden inside the frame. Then when I looked into the open port, with a bright light, it sure looked like there was a crack in the slide going down from one end of the notch. I couldn't get the slide off the frame for a closer look, since I wasn't sure how to line the slide up with the frame, for disassembly.

So, does the Witness .45 have a notch in the lower edge of the ejection port?

How do I line up the parts to remove the slide-stop pin?

Bart Noir

 

[TODD3465]

I had a .45 Witness but can't recall a notch like that where you described.

A friend owns it now when possible I'll have a look at it.

But I'd think I'd remember something like that.

 

[dfariswheel]

There should be no notch.
Sounds like an attempt to either stop, or hide a crack.

Very possibly EAA will replace the slide even though it's been altered.
Contact them.

To disassemble the Witness:
Align the two marks at the rear of the slide and frame.

Push out the slide stop and pull the slide off the frame.

Remove the recoil spring and guide and the barrel.

Here's a link to an owner's manual:
http://www.stevespages.com/page7b.htm

You can also get one from European American Armory (EAA):
http://www.eaacorp.com/

 

[Bart Noir]

Thanks for the response. I will not contact EAA because there is no way I will buy that gun! I didn't mention that it was ported and dirty so it's been shot. How many times and with what loads, who knows? I'll go back and try to get the slide off the frame. I told the shop owner that it may not be safe and feel like I should follow through with looking at it again. It might really have a crack.

Bart Noir